Daily Diary

Our Tone: a tribute to Linklaters' guardian Angel (part one)

Posted 22/01/2007 by The Daily Diary

A (former) Linklaters partner shares his personal recollections of the one man even David Cheyne calls 'Sir' - outgoing Silk Street chief Tony Angel, who last week announced he is to step down as managing partner after almost a decade in charge...

"When first asked to pen my thoughts on Tony’s legacy, I must confess I had somewhat mixed feelings. Having disagreed with Tony on occasion – he felt I should retire, I felt I shouldn’t – I did wonder whether I was the right person to give a balanced view. However, with ample time to kill this afternoon before Deal Or No Deal, I thought I would give it a whirl.

"But where to start? I will certainly never forget the first time I sat next to Tony in the partners dining room, where he was furiously scribbling a graph on the back of a napkin.

"'This toad-in-the-hole isn’t aligned to our core values,' Tony exclaimed. 'We must wage war on underperforming gravy.'

"'Come on, old boy, worse things happen at sea,' I interjected, attempting to lighten his intense mood with a wry reference to goings-on at Atlantic House. 'Try the spotted dick.'

"I could see my wisdom had given Tony a fresh sense of perspective. As I stood up to get seconds, Tony gripped his napkin fiercely, obviously chastening himself silently for his youthful impetuosity…"

Part two will appear tomorrow, or possibly Wednesday.